Staffordshire's army of gritters have been out for the first time this season, as temperatures across the county dropped.

The county council's fleet of gritters were in action last night across the county, as road surface temperatures fell to below freezing for the first time this season.

Temperatures and road conditions across the network are monitored from weather stations across the county, and a team of winter decision makers make the call on whether to roll out the gritters.

On routine winter days and nights gritters will be focusing on the major routes and extending to the wider network in prolonged ice and snow conditions.

The county's hill contractors are also called into action on the higher ground in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Staffordshire County Council's highways lead David Williams said: "Teams have already been putting the gritters through their paces to ensure they are ready to go when the bad weather hits, and since our 'official' start of winter in October, crews have been monitoring weather conditions. The temperature has dropped significantly, which is why our gritting crews went out for the first time this season last night.

"Over the past few years we've had fairly mild winters, but we are always prepared for the worst. When bad weather does hit, we will be out largely but in prolonged ice or snow we will be pulling out all the stops to treat less major routes across the network.

"Regardless of whether a road has been gritted, motorists need to slow down, take extra care and allow more time for their journeys."

People can find out more about how the county prepares for winter atwww.staffordshire.gov.uk/winter